| Citation |
VGW(HU.769.116
9 Nov 1769:13 (964)
Our correspondent at Manchester [England] writes are very
strange account of a religious sect who have lately made a
great noise in that town. They took their rise from a
prophet and prophetess who had their religious ceremonies
and tenets delivered to them in a vision, some years ago.
They hold theirs to be the only true religion, and all
others to be false. They meet constantly three times a day,
at the house of some one of their society, and converse in
their own way about the scriptures, a future state, other
sects of religion &c. until the moving of the spirit comes
upon them, which is first perceived by their beginning
leisurely to scratch upon their thighs or other parts of
their bodies; from that the motion becomes gradually
quicker, and proceeds to trembling, shaking, and screeching
in the most dreadful manner; at the same time their features
are not distinguishable, by reason of the quick motion of
their heads, which strange articulation at last ends in
singing and dancing to the pious tunes of Nancy Dawson,
Bobbin Joan, Hie thee Jemmy home again, &c. These fits come
upon them at certain intervals, and during the impulse of
the spirit they disturb the whole neighbourhood for some
considerable distance, and continue sometimes whole nights
in the must shocking distortions and commotions, until their
strength is quite exhausted, from which uncommon mode of
religious worship they have obtained the denomination of
Shakers.
|